Plant of the Month: January

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles' Common name: Old man's beard, traveller's joy, virgin's bower. Family: Ranunculaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 3-4m (10-13ft) x 1.8m (6ft). Form: Evergreen climber. Soil: Well-drained, gritty. Aspect: Sunny, warm position. Hardiness: Half-hardy to hardy.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles' @ Hyde Hall

You can see a great example of C. cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles' at Hyde Hall, near the Farmhouse. Here it is grown over a low wall, which it covers with its slightly shiny, evergreen foliage. This clematis is a great plant for winter interest as it flowers through the winter season, during slightly milder periods of weather.  It bears creamy white, pendulous flowers, which have dark red spots on the insides of the petals.

Clematis

There are around 300 species of deciduous or evergreen semi-woody to woody, sprawling climbers or woody-based perennials in this genus, and more than 400 cultivars currently in cultivation.

Clematis occur in the northern and southern hemispheres including Europe, China, Australasia, North America and Central America. They have been long cultivated in Japan, and have been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century.

The name is derived from the Greek klema meaning a twig, reflecting the brittle, woody nature of the clambering stems.

The genus is quite diverse ranging from low-growing herbaceous perennials, scandent or trailing shrubs, and climbers reaching 10-15m (30-50ft) in height.

The leaves are opposite sometimes alternate hairy to hairless, simple, three-palamate or pinnate with irregularly cut margins.

Climbing species attach to host plants or supporting structures by use of their leaf stalks.

Clematis are grown for their abundant flowers which are mostly bisexual rarely unisexual and are borne singly or in cymes or panicles, which are often followed by pretty grey seed heads.

Use climbing species to clothe a wall, arbour, trellis or pergola. They can also be grown over large shrubs or small trees.

Clematis cirrhosa

This species is an early-flowering, evergreen climber from southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

It has leaves in groups of three with small lobed leaflets. The flowers are open, cup-shaped, cream, often red-flecked and 2-7.5cm (0.75-3in) across. They are borne singly or in clusters, in late winter or early spring, followed by attractive seed heads.

C. cirrhosa var. purpurascens 'Freckles'

This attractive, vigorous cultivar was raised by Raymond Evison of Guernsey Clematis Nursery, from wild seed collected in the Balearic Islands, and named after one of his daughters whose nickname is Freckles. It was introduced in 1989.

It has single, nodding, creamy pink flowers with reddish maroon speckling on the insides of the tepals. Each tepal is 4-5cm (1.5-2in) long.

This clematis is best at the back of a border on a wall or fence.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Clematis cirrhosa var. pupurascens 'Freckles' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:

Large evergreen climber with neat, finely-cut leaves tinged bronze in winter. Flowers 5cm wide, pale yellow heavily speckled with maroon within. Good silky seed-heads.

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, with the roots and base of the plant in shade.

This cultivar prefers a warm sunny position. Mulch all clematis in late winter with garden compost or well-rotted manure avoiding the crown.

Plant with the top of the rootball about 7.5cm (3in) below the soil surface to reduce risk of clematis wilt. After planting cut back top growth of deciduous climbers to a strong pair of buds about 30cm (12in) above soil level. Provide strong support and tie-in initially.

Once established, prune only if the plant outgrows its allotted space, by cutting back to 1m (3.25ft) from the ground immediately after flowering.

Clematis are generally free from pests, but a build-up of aphids in spring could harm new growth.

Propagation

All clematis species can be successfully propagated from seed, which should be sown soon after harvesting to ensure good germination.

Cultivars such as 'Freckles' should be reproduced from layering or cuttings.